Pontiac, MI (December 14, 2007)  – When the Michigan Bucks return for pre-season camp in May, few will recognize the new face now working in the front office. Kyle Karns has been hired by the Michigan Bucks as the new President of Business Operations. Karns interned with the minor league soccer team during their 2003 and 2004 seasons as Director of Operations. During those seasons Kyle also took an active role in  MLS Detroit, a local grass roots campaign organized to help bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Detroit.

Karns has spent the past two seasons as Manager of Community Relations for the Detroit Ignition, a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League.   He will continue to use the same expertise for the Bucks that he honed with the Ignition; designing an extensive community outreach program that takes itself far beyond the soccer specific community.

“I am very excited to return to the Michigan Bucks soccer organization and fortunate to come into a great situation with the most successful Premier Development League (PDL) franchise in history.   Dan Duggan has always had a great business plan, and I am happy to be a part of that once again,” stated the Redford resident.

As the new President of Business Operations, Karns will manage many of the upcoming projects that the Michigan Bucks have had in the works since the season ended in August following the Bucks second consecutive trip to the North American finals. “It is nice to have someone that is familiar with the organization return and take on such an important role.  The Bucks will be making several major announcements after the holidays, so the timing of having Kyle take control of the team is ideal.   I have a great deal of confidence that Kyle can take this organization an even higher level than we are at today,” said Dan Duggan, owner of the Michigan Bucks.

To follow the Bucks off season press releases, please visit the Michigan Bucks website at buckssoccer.com.  The Bucks will be releasing the 2008 schedule, as well as player signings and information on their new home for the upcoming season within the next several weeks.

TWO BUCKS LEAD OHIO STATE TO FINAL FOUR THIS WEEKEND

The Ohio State Buckeyes have landed a place in the Men’s College Cup Final Four this weekend on the strength of two of this past summer’s Bucks players.  Solid defender Eric Brunner helped anchor a Bucks back line that carried the Michigan team to the title game in Laredo, Texas last August.  He has continued his stellar play with the Buckeyes this fall in Columbus.  While most Major League Soccer (MLS) scouts are in awe of his defensive skills, it was Brunner’s free kick taking that helped push his team into the Final Four in Cary, NC tonight.  The 6’6” Brunner scored on two free kicks in the 4-0 defeat of Bradley, eliminating the Braves and Bucks teammates Joe Donoho and Steve Brust in the process.  Big Ten Player of the Year Xavier Balc is no surprise when he stands over the ball, as he has been noted as one of the best free kick specialists in the country this year.  Balc’s lethal left foot has led to an incredible amount of goals from corner kicks and restarts all year long.  The Buckeyes will have to get past Massachusetts on Friday night in order to make their first ever appearance in the NCAA championship match on Sunday.  Balc would like nothing more than to finish his college career with a title, after having his controversial PK disallowed in the Bucks championship match that would have given Michigan back to back consecutive titles in the PDL.  Both college seniors are slated to be drafted in Major League Soccer’s SuperDraft on January 18, with many experts predicting they will both go in the first round.

(October 4, 2007) -- Former Bucks standout Pat Noonan led the New England Revolution to their first ever championship last night as they defeated FC Dallas 3-2.  Noonan scored a goal and had two assists as he was named Man of the Match in leading the Revs in winning the 2007 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup trophy.  This was New England’s first championship after having lost in several title game opportunities in both the MLS Cup and US Open Cup.  The star striker has overcome injuries this season to lead one of the top squads in Major League Soccer, as he did with the Bucks in 2001 and 2002.  The Revolution drafted Noonan after that season and he has split time between his MSL club and the US National team ever since.  Here is a summary of how the 2007 Michigan Bucks college players are doing this fall throughout the country:

Michigan State:  With a record of 6-0-2, the Spartans are one of four unbeaten teams left in the country, and a large part of that is due to Bucks striker Doug DeMartin.  DeMartin has paced the Spartans with 6 goals, most recently tallying two at Wisconsin on September 30th.  For his efforts, DeMartin was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week for Week #4.  State hosts Bowling Green on October 3rd in East Lansing.

Michigan: The Wolverines are out to their best start ever posting an 8-1-1 record at the end of September and ranked #16 in the nation.  Mauro Fuzetti has started the season strong with 4 goals and 3 assists, most recently tallying both helpers in the 2-0 win at Oakland on September 26th.  Bucks and Wolverines captain Mike Holody has scored 3 and added 2 assists from his defender position, most recently scoring in a 3-2 loss vs. #19 Indiana.  Holody continues to gather votes at the Big Ten player of the year.  Steve Bonnell has added a goal and 4 assists, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win at Oakland on September 26th.  The Wolverines next face #3 Notre Dame October 3rd in South Bend.

Oakland: Steve Clark recorded 3 shutouts in September (Sept. 5th 0-0 draw vs. Detroit; Sept. 19th 3-0 vs. Western Michigan; Sept 29th 1-0 at Western Illinois). Piotr Nowak recorded 5 assists during September, tallying 2 on September 19th in a 3-0 win against Western Michigan.   Ian Daniel added 2 goals and an assist in September, scoring and assisting in the 3-0 win vs. Western Michigan on September 19th.  Gabe Hernandez tallied his first goal of the season in a 4-2 loss to UC-Davis on September 15th.  The Grizzlies are 4-2-2 and are back in action October 3rd at Dayton.

Ohio State: Striker Xavier Balc has tallied 2 goals and 6 assists for the Buckeyes through the end of the month.  Most notably Balc assisted on 4 goals in OSU’s 6-1 rout against Cal State Fullerton on September 16th.  Bucks defender Eric Brunner netted the game winner against CSF, scoring his second of the year to go along with his Soccer America team of the week selection in week #2.  Ohio State is 5-3-2 at the end of September and hosts Cal State Bakersfield on October 3rd.

Lindsey Wilson:  Nate Jafta has led the Blue Raiders with 14 goals and 7 assists.  For his efforts, Jafta was named NAIA Region XI and Mid-South Conference Player of the Week this past week.  Ty Shipalane has added 5 goals and 5 assists at the end of September.  Jafta connected on the game winner from Shipalane last week as Lindsey (#4) defeated Indiana Wesleyan (#6) 1-0 at home.

Costal Carolina: Khelli Dube is back in action after a short injury layoff.  Dube has tallied 2 goals so far this season, most recently scoring in a 2-1 loss vs. Cal State-Fullerton on September 23rd.  The Chanticleers visit UNC-Asheville on October 3rd.

Gonzaga: Striker George Josten leads the Bulldogs this year with 3 goals and 3 assists.  His biggest goal of the season came in a 2-1 win against #15 Washington on September 7th.  Bucks teammate John Palladino assisted on the goal.  At the end of September, the Bulldogs record is 5-2-1.  Gonzaga visits St. Mary’s University on October 3rd.

The Michigan Bucks will begin their 13th season next May in the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League (PDL).  The Bucks were the 2006 North American PDL Champions and the 2007 North American Finalists, losing their bid for back to back titles on August 11 to the Laredo Heat (0-0, 4-3) in a penalty kick shootout.

For further information, please visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com.

Oakland University -- The Golden Grizzlies have kicked off their season with a draw and a victory.  On August 31st, as part of the Michigan/Oakland Challenge Tournament, OU came from behind to draw even with Hofstra University 1-1 in Rochester.  Two days later, the Grizzlies beat Rutgers  2-1 in overtime.  Bucks’ defender Ian Daniel scored the first goal for Oakland, with midfielder Piotr Nowak assisting on the winning goal in overtime.  Bucks goalkeeper Steve Clark started and went the full 90 minutes in both matches.  Oakland next hosts the University of Detroit-Mercy this Wednesday at 5:00 PM in Rochester.

University of Michigan -- The maize and blue kicked off their regular season in the Michigan/Oakland Challenge Tournament with a 3-0 victory over Rutgers University.  Bucks striker Mauro Fuzetti tallied early in the 2nd minute, assisted by club teammate Santos Perez.  Fuzetti struck again in the 62nd minute assisted by Bucks captain Mike Holody.   The Wolverines recorded their second win of the season 2 days later, with a 1-0 victory over Hofstra University in Ann Arbor. Along with Holody, Bucks midfielder Alex Morisset was named team captain.  The Wolverines are back in action Friday September 7th against Cal-State Northridge in Fullerton, California.

Michigan State University -- Spartans striker Doug DeMartin has tallied two goals in as many games, leading MSU to a 2-0 record early in the season.  DeMartin tallied the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Oregon State August 31st in East Lansing.  The Spartans were back in action two days later and DeMartin tallied the first goal in a 2-0 victory over Western Kentucky, again in East Lansing.  MSU is back in action September 14th against Florida International as part of the University of Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor. 

Ohio State University -- Buckeyes Senior striker Xavier Balc scored the only goal from the penalty spot in Ohio State’s 1-0 victory over #13 West Virginia to start the season. Senior defender Eric Brunner anchored the Buckeye defense in the win against West Virginia and a 0-0 draw with Syracuse two days later.  For his efforts, Brunner was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week for games play from August 31st-September 2nd.  Ohio State is back in action this Friday September 7th against Old Dominion at University Park, PA as part of the Penn State Nike Classic.

Bradley University -- Braves Senior defender Joe Donoho tallied the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 77th minute in a 2-1 decision over Lipscomb University to open the season.  Two days later Donoho set up the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Belmont University.   Bradley is back in action this Friday September 7th against #1 ranked North Carolina in Winston Salem, NC. 

Lindsey Wilson College -- Bucks Midfielder Nate Jafta has recorded 4 goals and 2 assists in three games this season, recording 3 goals in a 7-0 win against Saint Xavier University on August 25th.  Ty Shipalane has recorded a goal and an assist for the Blue Raiders, scoring the winning goal in overtime in a 3-2 victory over Park University (Missouri).  The Blue Raiders are back in action at home on Friday September 7th against Union University (Tennessee)

Gonzaga University -- Bucks forward George Josten recorded the assist in the Bulldogs 1-0 victory against #1 ranked and defending national champion UC-Santa Barbara on September 2nd.  The Bulldogs return to action on Friday September 7th against the University of Washington. 

Laredo, TX (August 11, 2007) -- The 2006 North American Champion Michigan Bucks fell short in their attempt to repeat as Premier Development League (PDL) champions after battling the Laredo Heat to a 0-0 scoreless draw for 90 minutes of regular time and another 30 minutes of overtime, before settling the match in penalty kicks.  The Heat outscored the Bucks 4-3 in PK’s, going to six kickers from each side.  The brutally physical match may not have looked appealing to the national TV audience on Fox Soccer Channel, but to the 6,640 diehard fans clad in "Revenge Red", the scoreless regulation game was a welcome sight.  The Bucks jumped on the Heat 2-0 in the first nine minutes last year in the title match and the defensive plan this year was to keep history from repeating itself, as the Bucks went on to a 2-1 win.

The Heat smothered the Bucks league leading scoring attack with tight marking all over the pitch.  The Bucks, who lost second leading scorer Khelli Dube to a knee injury in the semi- final match, substituted Doug DeMartin (MSU) up top with leading scorer Kenny Uzoigwe as the pair of strikers.  The Bucks offense struggled to get going in the first 20 minutes of the match, but finally got rolling mid way through the first half.  More details of tonight’s match will come in tomorrow’s insider, but the Bucks had several chances to put the game away in regulation, including three opportunities that were created by attacking mid fielder Nate Jafta -- but no goals would reach the target.

In the Penalty Shootout, the Bucks would send Nik Djokic (Livonia) to bury the first kick past Laredo goalkeeper Ryan Cooper.  The Heat answered with a goal by Daniel Galvin, to knot the score at 1-1.  Bucks second half sub Xavier Balc (Ohio State) cracked a shot off the cross bar that came directly down from the bar to the goal line -- but referee Oscar Ortiz ruled it no goal.  After the Heat’s Carlos Ordaz put the Heat up one goal, Bucks defender Eric Brunner (Ohio State) stepped up to knot the score at 2-2.  Issac Morales missed the frame with his PK to put the Bucks back on track and the visitors would go back up 3-2 as Mauro Fuzetti (Michigan) would make the lead 3-2.  When the Heat’s Silas Blackwell made his shot and Michigan captain Mike Holody had his effort saved by Cooper, the game came down to one final PK.  If the Heat score, they win- if Clark can make the save, we move on.  Heat captain Juan Ibarra stepped up to send the frantic crowd home with a title, but Steve Clark made yet another spectacular game saving stop to send the PK’s to an extra session.

The Bucks sixth kicker, Kenny Uzoigwe attempted his game leading shot, but was hampered so bad by leg cramps that he could not continue and take the PK.  Ian Daniel stepped up and had his shot saved by Cooper.  With the game on the line, youngster Felix Garcia slotted home the game winner past Clark for the first PDL title for Laredo in their franchise’s five year history.

More details and team quotes will follow tomorrow from last night’s disappointing Bucks loss in Texas.

For  further information, please visit the Bucks web site at buckssoccer.com. 

Michigan Bucks vs. Laredo Heat
Student Activity Center
Laredo, TX
August 11th 2007

Scoring Summary:
none

Penalty Kick Summary:
MICH -- Nik Djokic - goal, Xavier Balc - miss, Eric Brunner - goal, Mauro Fuzetti - goal,
Mike Holody - save, Ian Daniel - save
LAR -- Daniel Galvan - goal, Carlos Ordaz - goal, Isaac Morales - miss, Silas Blackwell - goal,
Juan de Dios Ibarra - save, Felix Garcia - goal
 
Lineups:

Michigan: 25-Steve Clark, 4-Kyle Russell, 22-Ian Daniel, 3-Mike Holody, 23-Eric Brunner, 17-Piotr Nowak (2-Gabe Hernandez ’106), 14-Alex Morisset, 7-Ty Shipalane (6-Xavier Balc ’85), 8-Nate Jafta (20-Mauro Fuzetti ’104), 18-Doug DeMartin (16-Nik Djokic ’53), 10-Kenny Uzoigwe
Subs not used: 5-Adam Brent, 11-Steve Bonnell, 21-Khelli Dube
Head Coach: Dan Fitzgerald

Laredo: 1-Ryan Cooper, 4-Juan Cruz (7-Carlos Ordaz ’64), 22-Daniel Galvan, 21-Nicho Infante, 29-Mark Vega, 10-Juan Ibarra, 13-Gregory Mulamba, 15-Raul Quinones (5-Jacob Almack ’77), 28-Hector Vallejo (16-Silas Blackwell ’101), 11-Josh Fender (20-Felix Garcia ’52), 19-Isaac Morales Dominguez
Subs not used: 0-Jorge Zamora, 8-Steve Su, 14-Lexton Moy
Head Coach: Israel Collazo

Misconduct Summary:
MICH -- Piotr Nowak (caution) -- 80th minute
MICH -- Nik Djokic (caution) -- 86th minute
MICH -- Mike Holody (caution) -- 109th minute
LAR -- Nicho Infante (caution) -- 109th minute

Statistics:
Shots: Laredo 10, Michigan 7
Saves: Laredo 4, Michigan 6
Fouls: Laredo 10, Michigan 14
Offsides: Laredo 10, Michigan 5
Corners: Laredo 8, Michigan 7

Referees: Oscar Ortiz, Greg Boles, Rudy Nino, Jasen Anno